Agree. It sounds wonderful on the outside, but once you start reading all the details it gets a little hairy. For example, they do not define what exactly a "business services company" is and is not. Using a broad definition, that could eliminate some tech startups right out the gate. Another example of the broad definition is "financial services firm". Does that immediately eliminate BitCoin or payment processing startups? The list goes on.
I like the idea and more states/cities should follow the lead, but in order to be effective the people implementing these programs need to be clear on what is and is not an acceptable business. The other part of the NY program I was hesitant about was that you are committed to partnering with a university. Doesn't leave room if your business plan pivots and falls out of line with the "interests of the hosting university".
Strange. I wonder if it's politics. There's a great idea for pushing tech, but then the anti-banking lobby kicks in, as does everyone else that's anti-business.
Unclear if this got watered down while Bloomberg was in town, or if it's part of Deblassio's class warfare.
This is the first year (roughly) of the program. They (NY State) announced it last year. Many of us in NYC looked at it and were like: "ok, well, no use to us". The thing with NY State programs is that they're almost entirely geared to helping politicians north of I-84. While the NYC region has the bulk of the population, it doesn't control the legislature (so when people complain about NYC's taxes, keep in mind that the state controls the tax structure, NYC has minimal control over revenue).
NYC's programs for startup businesses (digital and otherwise) have been more oriented to eliminating red tape, some real estate help. Lately there's an extremely underhyped effort to get fiber to offices, but the requirements are such that you'd need to be well along in your business to take advantage of it.
I like the idea and more states/cities should follow the lead, but in order to be effective the people implementing these programs need to be clear on what is and is not an acceptable business. The other part of the NY program I was hesitant about was that you are committed to partnering with a university. Doesn't leave room if your business plan pivots and falls out of line with the "interests of the hosting university".